Drinking vessel and ice submersion techniques

Abstract

Methods and devices for enhancing drinking chilled drinking vessels are provided. In some aspects, a concentric set of arms or tabs in a pre-configured section of a drinking vessel applies holding pressure to expanded water poured within the section. A beverage is then poured over the frozen water, submerging it. In other aspects, holding pressure is maintained through flexible and/or adjustable arms, and lateral play eliminated, even if the frozen water melts. In other embodiments, a loop or set of loops extends from the center of the vessel above the section, and separate, flexible members (preferably cambered) are threaded through the loops after the water is frozen to apply greater holding pressure.

I claim: 
     
       1. A drinking vessel comprising a cavity and at least one flexible arm(s) extending from a surface lining said cavity, said at least one flexible arm(s) having:
 a first position wherein said at least one flexible arm(s) reacts with a holding force upon water and/or aqueous solution filling said cavity up to a predetermined water level, and wherein said holding force results, at least in part, from said water and/or aqueous solution being subjected to freezing temperatures and expanding, and/or becoming frozen solid at a bottom of said drinking vessel. 
 
     
     
       2. The drinking vessel of  claim 1 , comprising a vertical stanchion connected at, and concentric with, a bottom of said cavity. 
     
     
       3. The drinking vessel of  claim 2 , wherein said vertical stanchion comprises or is connected to said at least one flexible arm(s). 
     
     
       4. The drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one flexible arm(s) is connected to at least one wall defining said cavity. 
     
     
       5. The drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one flexible arm(s) comprises a bend or camber and at least one end(s) of said at least one flexible arm(s) is/are substantially lower than a center of said at least one flexible arm(s) when in a resting conformation, which resting conformation is one of a plurality of different physical conformations of said at least one flexible arm(s). 
     
     
       6. The drinking vessel of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one flexible arm(s) comprises at least one downward-facing tip or edge at said end(s). 
     
     
       7. The drinking vessel of  claim 6 , wherein said tip or edge rests at, about or above a water line or water line marker written in said drinking vessel. 
     
     
       8. The drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one flexible arm(s) is/are switchable between at least two different physical conformations. 
     
     
       9. The drinking vessel of  claim 8 , wherein a first physical conformation of said at least two different physical conformations results in said first position, and wherein said first position is an at least partially lower vertical position of said at least one flexible arm(s) than a second position resulting from a second physical conformation, and wherein said first physical conformation also results in applying a holding force to an object occupying said cavity. 
     
     
       10. The drinking vessel of  claim 9 , comprising a central tab within a base of said drinking vessel, wherein said central tab enables a user to actuate said at least one flexible arm(s) between said at least two different physical conformations. 
     
     
       11. A method for holding water and/or an aqueous solution below a fluid, comprising the following steps:
 obtaining a drinking vessel comprising a cavity and at least one flexible arm(s), wherein said at least one flexible arm(s) extends from a surface of said drinking vessel, and is configured to grip and react with a holding force upon said water and/or an aqueous solution at least partially filling said cavity as said water and/or an aqueous solution are subjected to freezing temperature(s) and expand to become frozen solid at a bottom of said drinking vessel; 
 filling said cavity up to said predetermined water level, with said water and/or an aqueous solution. 
 
     
     
       12. The drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one flexible arm(s) comprise a plurality of materials. 
     
     
       13. The drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said first position results, at least in part, from a material of said at least one flexible arm(s) having a high coefficient of contraction with decreasing temperatures. 
     
     
       14. The drinking vessel of  claim 12 , wherein said first position results, at least in part, from a material of said at least one flexible arm(s) having a high coefficient of contraction with decreasing temperatures. 
     
     
       15. The drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said first position results, at least in part, from a material of said at least one flexible arm(s) having a low coefficient of contraction, and/or a high coefficient of expansion, with decreasing temperatures. 
     
     
       16. The drinking vessel of  claim 12 , wherein said first position results, at least in part, from a material of said at least one flexible arm(s) having a low coefficient of contraction, and/or a high coefficient of expansion, with decreasing temperatures. 
     
     
       17. The drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one flexible arm(s) comprise a spring. 
     
     
       18. The method for holding water and/or an aqueous solution of  claim 11 , comprising the following additional step:
 subjecting said drinking vessel and said water and/or an aqueous solution to said freezing temperature(s), converting said water and/or an aqueous solution to a solid state, which then occupies greater space than before said converting into said solid state. 
 
     
     
       19. The method for holding water and/or an aqueous solution of  claim 18 , comprising the following additional step:
 ceasing to subject said drinking vessel to said freezing temperature(s). 
 
     
     
       20. The method for holding water and/or an aqueous solution of  claim 18 , comprising the following additional step:
 introducing a fluid, above said water and/or an aqueous solution, and cooling it with said water and/or an aqueous solution.